Privacy fence



June 9, 1964 Filed J. s. CASE 3,136,530

PRIVACY FENCE "um I F/G 6 JoH/v s. CASE INV ENT OR FIG. 7.

ATTORNEY J. S. CASE PRIVACY FENCE Junei 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2L Filed June 5', 1961 INVENTOR BY wwfzi@ June 9, 1964 J. s. cAsE 3,136,530

PRIVACY FENCE Filed June 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheetl 5 ./oH/v s. CASE INVENTOR BY wam 7M ATTORNEY `lune 9, 1964 J; s, CASE 3,136,530

PRIVACY FENCE Filed June 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l -4 f/ I i lf/ fn I A H230 200 '1 `2/6 FIG. l0.

JOHN S. OASE INVENTOR ATTORNEY United `States Patent O 3,136,530 PRIVACY FENCE John S. Case, Towson, Md., assigner to Anchor Post Products, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 5, 1961, Ser. No. 114,737

2 Claims. (Cl.A 256-24) Y This invention relates generally to fence structures, and more specifically this invention pertains to improvements in board type privacy fences.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a board type fence which can be assembled with a minimum of labor and adapted readily to a variety of field conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fence |board captivating arrangement in which the boards can be positioned in a variety of functional and decorative manners.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a fence rail channel for neatly and efiiciently securing the ends of decorative convoluted fence boards for use either on level ground or sloping terrain.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rail clip for securing channel type rails to a fence post.

These and other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is aside elevation of a fence incorporating features of this invention; l Y

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of the fence of FIG. l showing details of the top rail;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing details of the bottom rail;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view illustrating an assembled board and top rail;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 depicting the assembled board and bottom rail;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adapter bracket for use with field shortened fences;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the adapter bracket of FIG. 6 to the rail and its relationship to a post bracket;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view depicting a modified bracket assembled to a post;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded detail perspective view of the modified bracket shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. ll is a vertical section taken on line 11--11 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, the improved fence assembly, designated generally by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1, consists of spaced line posts 12 which support a pair of channel shaped rails and 50. A plurality of vertical boards 48 (or other types of structural members) are captivated between the bottom rails 20 and the top rails 50 and are secured as will be related below. The boards 48 may be either plain or convoluted from sheet material as in the example.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, each line post 12 consists of a generally H-shaped extrusion having re-entrant flanges 14. A pair of vertically spaced brackets 16 is secured across each pair of flanges 14 by soldering or welding.

Each bracket 16 is formed with outwardly and upwardly extending hooks 18 on its lower edge. The lowermost bracket 16 of FIG. 3 supports the previously mentioned bottom rail 20 with its side flange 24 extending upwardly.

3,136,530 Patented June 9, 1964 ice The uppermost bracket 16 supports a top board channel 40 whose flanges 46 also extend upwardly. The ends of the respective webs 22 and 42 of the bottom rail 20 and top board channel 40 are provided with clearance notches 28 and hook slots 26.

Each notch 28 straddles the width of its respective bracket 16 while the slots 26 engage the hooks 18 of their respective bracket 16.

After the bottom rail 20 and top board channel 40 are positioned on the brackets 16 as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, these hooks 18 are hammered over as indicated by reference numeral 18.

A close-fitting bottom board channel 30 is next placed, with its flanges 36 directed downwardly within the bottom rail 20. The web 32 of this channel 30 and the web 42 of the top board channel 40 are perforated with slots 34 and44, respectively, in the cross-sectional shape and at the desired locations of the vertical boards 48.

The boards 48 are then inserted in these slots 34 and 44 to rest with their lower ends upon the web 22 of the bottom rail 20. The top rail 50 is next placed over the top board channel 40, thus covering the flanges 46 thereof and the upper ends of the vertical boards 44.

The top rail 50 may also extend over the top of the line post 12 provided the fence 10 is to extend therebeyond. Otherwise the line post 12 may be suitably capped as desired. Rivets 38 and 52, which are passed through the sides of rails 20 and 50, complete the assembly of the fence 10.

Where shortened' fences 10 are required, the channels and rails may be cut to length in the field. Of course this leaves one end of the fence without the hook engaging slots 26 and the clearance notch 28. In this case, an adapter bracket as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is employed.

The adapter bracket 100 is stamped from sheet metal and formed to consist of a pair of upstanding opposing flanges 104 joined by a depending narrower web 102. One side of web 102 is provided with a notch 128 and spaced slots 126.

As used, the web 102 of the adapter bracket 100 is abutted against the cut end of web 42 of a shortened length 40', for example, of a board channel. Rivets 106 are then passed through the double thickness of overlapping flanges 104 and 46 of the bracket 100 and shortened channel 40', respectively.

For non-standard height fences, the boards 48 are easily cut to the desired length. The lower rail supporting bracket 16 on the line post 12 will not be correctly posiitoned for this case. Accordingly, a modified bracket 216 which can be installated in the field is provided.

This bracket 216 is shown in detail in FIG. 9 and depicted attached to a line post 12 in FIGS. 8, l0 and ll. The bracket 216 is equal in width to bracket 16 previously described and is provided with hooks 218 which are the equivalent of hooks 18.

However, a pair of stiffener flanges 221 are positioned at the top and bottom and turned inwardly so as to engage between the inner flanges 200 of the line post 12. A separate retainer plate 222 is used with this modified bracket 216 and it is equipped with a pair of horizontally arranged flanges 226 and spaced vertically arranged flanges 224, with the latter flanges being dimensioned so as to embrace the inner flanges 200 of the line post 12 from inside.

The bracket 216 and plate 222 are pierced with matching holes 220 and 228, the former countersunk for the head of a bolt 230. The horizontal flanges 226 of the retainer plate 222 are spaced to closely accept a square nut 232 for the bolt 230. Thus, the modified bracket 216 may be positioned vertically as desired on post 12 and 3 the bolt 230 tightened Without requiring access to the nut 232. A nal soldering or welding of the bracket 216 in the chosen position is optional.

It Will bepnoted that the rails 2Q and 50 of a fence 10 designed according to the foregoing specication may depart considerably from the horirontal with the boards 48 arranging themselves stair step fashion to suit a sloping terrain without disturbing the plumb of either the posts 12 or boards 48.

Further, it is to be pointed out that a wide choice of fence board'arrangements can be offered by simply varying the relative locations of the board slots in the top and bottom board channels 40 and 30. Thus, spaced boards 48, staggered overlap, lowered, or basket weave, in addition to the complete privacy style just described, are possible. i

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of theV above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A board type privacy fence arrangement, comprising at least a pair of spaced line posts each of channel shape cross-section at least along one side thereof, With re-entrant flanges extending from each leg of each of said channel shape cross-section, a pair of vertically spaced means secured across corresponding pairs of said re-entrant flanges of each said post, each said means having outwardly and upwardly extending spaced hook elements, a pair of horizontally arranged parallel spaced channel shaped rail members extending between adjacent posts, each said rail member having slots provided in its ends corresponding in number to said spaced hook elements of each vertically spaced means for engagement thereby, the upper of said channel shaped rail members having substantially along its entire length longitudinally extending slots in staggered and overlapping relationship,

a bottom board channel having its flanges directed downwardly and intertting with the lower of said channel shaped rail members and having slots in register with said slots in said upper channel shaped rail member, vertically extending members positioned between said rail members, with the lower ends of said vertically extending members Vbeing received by said slots in said vbottom board channel and in engagement with said lower of said channel shaped rail members and the upper ends of said vertically extending members being received by corresponding slots in said upper of Vsaid channel shaped rail members so as to .be locked inposition between Vsaid pair of channel shaped rail members, whereby said vertically extending members forma barrier providing sub-y stantial privacy, and a channel shaped top rail mounted along the upper of said channel shaped rail members to cover the upper ends of said vertically extending members.

2. The board type privacy fence arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein one of'said pair of vertically spaced means and the corresponding vertically spaced means of an adjacent post are adjustable along their respective posts and each adjustable vertically spaced means includes a pair of plates one on each side of said re-entrant anges of each post and means clamping said pair of plates towards one' another against said re-entrant flanges, the exterior plate of said pair. plates having said outwardly and upwardly extending spaced hook elements.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,351,127 Hodson-; June 13, 1944 2,371,921 Tucker Mar. 20, 1945 2,590,929 Bush g Apr. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,566 Germany Aug. 18, 1934 

1. A BOARD TYPE PRIVACY FENCE ARRANGEMENT, COMPRISING AT LEAST A PAIR OF SPACED LINE POSTS EACH OF CHANNEL SHAPE CROSS-SECTION AT LEAST ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF, WITH RE-ENTRANT FLANGES EXTENDING FROM EACH LEG OF EACH OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPE CROSS-SECTION, A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED MEANS SECURED ACROSS CORRESPONDING PAIRS OF SAID RE-ENTRANT FLANGES OF EACH SAID POST, EACH SAID MEANS HAVING OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING SPACED HOOK ELEMENTS, A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED PARALLEL SPACED CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT POSTS, EACH SAID RAIL MEMBER HAVING SLOTS PROVIDED IN ITS ENDS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO SAID SPACED HOOK ELEMENTS OF EACH VERTICALLY SPACED MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREBY, THE UPPER OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG ITS ENTIRE LENGTH LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOTS IN STAGGERED AND OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP, A BOTTOM BOARD CHANNEL HAVING ITS FLANGES DIRECTED DOWNWARDLY AND INTERFITTING WITH THE LOWER OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS AND HAVING SLOTS IN REGISTER WITH SAID SLOTS IN SAID UPPER CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBER, VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID RAIL MEMBERS, WITH THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS BEING RECEIVED BY SAID SLOTS IN SAID BOTTOM BOARD CHANNEL AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOWER OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS BEING RECEIVED BY CORRESPONDING SLOTS IN SAID UPPER OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS SO AS TO BE LOCKED IN POSITION BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS, WHEREBY SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS FORM A BARRIER PROVIDING SUBSTANTIAL PRIVACY, AND A CHANNEL SHAPED TOP RAIL MOUNTED ALONG THE UPPER OF SAID CHANNEL SHAPED RAIL MEMBERS TO COVER THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS. 